Metallic baseboard element



March 28, 1933.

H. M. REED, JR

METALLI@ BASEBOARD ELEMENT Filed Aug. l, 1931 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 28, 1933 g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY M. REED, JR., OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR T STANDARD SANITARY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ,A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY METALLIC BASEBOARD ELEMENT Application led August 1, 1931.

rIlhis invention relates to metallic wall panels, and in particular to a new and improved means for joining the panels to a floor.

In modern building construction it has been increasingly common to employ sheet metal panels as a sheathing in bathrooms and the like because such a sheathing is more economical than tile since it can be fabricated at less cost, and is more sanitary since it is easily cleaned.

One problem in the use of such metallic panels as a sheathing for bathrooms and the like is the formation of a suitable joint between the panel and the fioor. Ordinarily the panels forming the sheathing are fabricated at the factory and shipped out ready to be assembled and since the panels cannot be bowed or distorted during the installation, it is necessary to have a certain amount of tolerance in the length of the panels'so that they may be readily placed in position. Due to the leeway or tolerance in the panel and to the structural variations in the rooms in which the panels are to be used, unsightly cracks are often formed along the bottom of the room. Also, a certain amount of tolerance or leew'ay is necessary due to the expansion and contraction of metal.

One object of this invention is to provide means for joining a metallic wall panel to the ioor of a room which permits ready installation of the panels and permits of a certain amount of tolerance in the length of the panels without having unsightly cracks be- 'p tween the floor and the panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for joining sheet metal panels to the floor of a roo-m which will be relatively simple to manufacture and efficient in operation.

These and other obj ects which will be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art, I accomplish by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing a clip or fixture for joining metallic panels to a Hoor made in Vaccordance with my invention, and

Serial No. 554,590.

Fig. 2 is a plan view along the line II-II of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 1 designates the floor of a bathroom or the like having a-covering 2 thereon formed of linoleum, tiling, or any other suitable floor covering. Extending upwardly from the floor 1 are members 3 which support a wall sheathing 4 formed of sheet metal panels. The panels 4t are fastened to furring o-r nailing strips (not shown) which are secured to the members 3 at points adjacent the top of the room.

In order to secure a suitable joint between the bottoms of the panels 4 and the floor 1, I provide a clip or fixture 5 which is secured to the floor and has a recess therein for receiving the ends of the panels. -The clip or fixture 5 forms the baseboard for the room and comprises a base portion 6 and two substantially vertical legs 7 and 8 which are spaced apart so as to snugly receive a panel therebetween. The base 6 of the clip is provided with suitableropenings for receiving suitable means for securing the clip or iixture to the floor.

The leg 7 which is at the rear of the fixture or clip is bowed inwardly or hipped at a point intermediate its length so as to form a hip 9 thereon. lVhile the leg 8, which is at the front of the clip or fixture and forms the baseboardfor the room, is curved inwardly and has lthe upper edge rolled inwardly on itself so as to form a bead 10 therealong which is spaced from the leg 7.. The leg 8 may be provided with a vertical portion 11 adjacent the base which forms an labutmentl for the iioor covering 2.

When a room is being equipped with a metallic wall panel sheathing, the clip or lixture 5 having the legs properly spaced for the gauge of panel being used, is secured to the floor. A panel is forced between the legs 7 and 8. The edge of thepanel engages the hip 9 on the leg 7 and forces it upon its normal position(shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1) so that the leg imparts a spring-like force to the panel and firmly holds it against the beaded edge 10 on the leg 8. After lhe lower end of the panel is'r positioned in the clip 5 the upper end is secured to the furring or nailing strip. Other panels are then placed in the clip and secured to the nailing strip until the wall covering is completely assembled. The space between the legs 7 and 8 may be filled with a waterproof cement if a watertight joint between the clip and the wall panel is desired.

By having the leg S extending upwardly and inwardly it is apparent that I have provided a baseboard for the room which has no sharp corners for the reception 0f dirt and other foreign matter, and which can be easily and eiciently cleaned.

It is also apparent that I have provided. a clip or fixture for securing the wall panels to the floor of av room which are readily installed, which permits easy installation of the wall panels and the removal of the same, and which permits a reasonable variation or tolerance in the panel length and insures a neat and attractive appearance to the room when the installation is completed.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to lsecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A metallic mold board for sheet metal wall construction having a base, a longitudinally extending upstanding member along one edge of said base and having an inwardly projecting shoulder intermediate of its height, and a longitudinally extending upstanding member along the opposite edge of said base and being gradually curved inwardly from said base te the top thereof, said members beii'ig spaced apart to form a panelreceiving recess therebetween.

2. A metallic mold board for a sheet metal wall construction comprising a member having spaced. legs extending upwardly therefrom for receiving the end of a wall panel therebetween and for engaging the front and back thereof, the leg engaging the front of said panel being curved inwardly and terminating in a rolled edge and the leg engaging the back of said panel being crimped inwardly to impart a spring action against said panel and firmly press it against the rolled edge on the front leg of said mold board.

3. A metallic mold board for sheet metal wall construction having a member provided with spaced upstanding legs along the longitudinal edges thereof for receiving the bottom of a wall panel therebetween and for engaging both the front and the back of said panel, the leo* engaging the front of said panel being curved inwardly from the bottom to the top to form a curved baselooard and the leg engaging the rear of said panel being inwardly hipped intermediate of its height to press the panel against the front leg of the mold board.

4L. A metallic mold board for sheet metal wall constructions comprising a base having spaced upstanding members along the longi- HENRY M. REED, JR. 

